Fire-proof box for fire-escapes



' (No Model.)

B. O. MARGILETH.

FIRE PROOF BOX FOR FIRE ESGAPES.

PE'IERS. Phowuxm n mr. Washington. D.C.

, omen STATES PATENT ()rricn.

BERNARD G. llIARG-ILETH, OF AURORA, INDIANA.

' FIRE-PROOFBQX FOR FlRE-ESCAPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,287, dated November 2'7, 1583.

Application filed September 13,1853. No model.)

2'0 all whom itmwy OOH/067771:

, Be itknown that I, BERNARD O. IVIARGILETH, .a citizen of the United States of America, re-

clare the following to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthisspecification.

My invention relates to fire-escapes; and it consists of an improved device, fully described hereinafter, whereby persons, goods, &c., may

be safely and readily lowered from various heights without subjecting the same to jar or shock.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved device, the

doors being open to reveal the interior. Fig. 2 is another perspectiveview, showing the device out of operation and arranged for stowageor transportation; and Fig. 3 is a view of the under side of the device.

' A B represent metallic bars, curved at their ends to form bearings a for the ends of journals b, upon which turn rollers 0, located in notches d, formedin the ends of said bars. The bars A B form the sides, and transversebars O D, respectively, the top and bottom, of a frame, the said bars 0 D being connected to the bars A B at their ends on the rear sides of said bars. Upon the described metallic frame is riveted or otherwise secured a leather backing, E. Transverse wooden bars F G, con nected at their ends to the side bars, A B, by

back E, but can be readily folded back to occupy a plane parallel therewith, as shown in Fig. 2.

To the front side of the bar A is hinged a curved section, H, which rests between the top f and bottom 9, and forms one half of the front portion of the receptacle proper, while a second curved section, I, similar to the sec tion H, is hinged thereto, and constitutes. the b remaining portion of the front of the receptacle proper. The sections Hand I are made of flexible fire-proof material-as leather treated with a fire-proof composition, thin plates of steel or iron, or of a fabric manufactured and treated for this purpose. to the edge of the section I, as seen in 'Fig. 1, passes through a staple, i7, secured to the bar B, and carries a counterpoise or weight, j,'jat.

its end, so as to normally hold the sections H I closed between the top f and bottom g, and

hence close the receptacle proper. Hooks k l, pivotally secured to one of the ends of the bars A cord, h, attached F G, are adapted to engage staples m n on the outer side of the section I, near the edge thereof, and thus rigidly retain the sections H I in a closed position.

Beneath the bottom 9 and to the bars A B are pivotally hinged brackets J K, the ends of vertical bars 0 of the said brackets being swiveled in loops 19, secured to the bars A B. The said brackets J K carry at their outer ends vertical pins q, which, when the brackets are in the position illustrated in full lines, Fig. 3, bear in eccentric grooves 1' and support said bottom, but when in the position illustrated by dotted lines permit the bottomv to be turned down parallel with the back E, as previously described. Bods L M, extending parallel with and projecting from the ends of the barsA B,

beneath the bottom 9, are cylindrical at their 0. The hoisting and lowering rope having been passed around and secured to the T'-head O, the front sections are secured by having the section I rigidly hooked to the bar B, and the brackets being in the position shown in Fig. 1, the top f is thrown back, thus enabling articles to be placed within the receptacle formed by the bottom 9, backing E, and front sections, H I, to be lowered, which canbe effected without difficulty by reason of the rollers 0 bearing against the front of the building.

Any tendency to jar the contents as the device comes in contact with the ground willbe overcome by reason of the elastic or spring buffers N, which can be removed, and the extension-rods L M utilized as handles to raise the rear end of the device and wheel it off on its front wheels in the manner of the ordinary wheelbarrow. I v

When the device is not in use, the brackets can be turned down to the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 3, the bottom and top folded back parallel with the back E, and the front sections folded down in the position shown in Fig. 2, by which arrangement the entire de- Vice occupies the minimum'space for stowage or transportation.

The back E, top f, front sections, H I, and top covering .of the bottom maybe made of any desired material, preferably non-combustible; hence I do not limit myself to the use of leather.

The grooves in the bottom section may be omitted, in which event the bottom section Will-be hinged to fall in different directions, and'will be provided with holes for the reception and retention of the pins q of the brackets. The counterpo se and cord maintain the front sections closed when theyare not secured by the hooks.

I clain1 1.- The combination, in abox or car designed for use in connection with fire-escapes, with a metallic frame forming the back of a receptacle or chamber, and having rollers located at its ends, of the front portion consisting of hinged sections H I, substantially as set forth.

2. In a box or car designed for use in connection with fire-escapes, a receptacle con sisting of hinged top and bottom sections and of hinged front sections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a box or car designed for use in connection with fire-escapes, a receptacle consisting of hinged top and bottom sections and of hinged front side sections, the bottom sec- 40 tion being grooved on its under side to re ceive the projecting pins of swiveled brackets bearing on the frame beneath, substair tially as set forth.

4. In a box or car designed for use in connection with fire-escapes, a receptacle provided with hinged front sections, II I, adapted to be normally maintained closed by a cord and counterpoise, substantially as set'forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BERNARD (l. llIARGILETH. 

